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Bladesmithing
- Thread starter B14d3r11
- Start date
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith
ilmarinen - MODERATOR
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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2004
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- 38,507
Call Aldo. He used to have some 1050.
http://newjerseysteelbaron.com/
http://newjerseysteelbaron.com/
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- Oct 3, 2002
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Why 1055? I've never seen any for sale.
1050 used to be widely available, but no more. 1060/65 is around, but 1075/80/84/95 is much more common.
1050 used to be widely available, but no more. 1060/65 is around, but 1075/80/84/95 is much more common.
I was looking for 1050-1055 just to start and learn. I figured its easier to forge so that when i goto 1075 i already have knowledge in manipulating the metal. My father has brought a point up to me which idk if is true or not, if i buy 1/4 in 1050 Carbon Steel and 1/8 in 1050 Carbon Steel, is it possible to heat both up and fuse them together when they are red hot? Or would I need some sort of binding agent.
Seriously, get some low carbon steel and play with it. Forging knives is a fairly sophisticated blacksmithing process, and you'll be waaaaay ahead if you practice the basics with some garden variety mild steel.
If you want to learn at home, get Mark Aspery's book http://www.markaspery.com/School_of_Blacksmithing/Book_1.html
It's not an inexpensive book, but it's cheaper than a weekend "beginning blacksmithing" class.
Find your local ABANA chapter and get to know some smiths. If you let us know where you are, I can tell you who is close by.
If you want to learn at home, get Mark Aspery's book http://www.markaspery.com/School_of_Blacksmithing/Book_1.html
It's not an inexpensive book, but it's cheaper than a weekend "beginning blacksmithing" class.
Find your local ABANA chapter and get to know some smiths. If you let us know where you are, I can tell you who is close by.
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2011
- Messages
- 1,429
If you want to make knives just buy knife steel. There's pros n cons to using mild steel for forging. It forges easier so you learn hammer control faster and can make whatever you want but if you make a knife that you want to finish the mild is worthless.
On the other hand. I've been forging 2-3 times a week and I have been forging a blade and between heats I have a few pieces of mild I've been making shop tools, hammer hanging loops etc so as to not waste time/propane.
I bought 32' or so of 1080 from Kelly Cupples for just over $100 shipped!
1080 from Kelly or 1084 from Aldo is what you want!
The cost ratio of the steel to propane/coal and your personal time cost is ridiculous. You can make a rat tail blacksmith knife from a 4" piece of steel drawn out. One 48" bar of steel would make 10-12 forge small knives. Cheap!
On the other hand. I've been forging 2-3 times a week and I have been forging a blade and between heats I have a few pieces of mild I've been making shop tools, hammer hanging loops etc so as to not waste time/propane.
I bought 32' or so of 1080 from Kelly Cupples for just over $100 shipped!
1080 from Kelly or 1084 from Aldo is what you want!
The cost ratio of the steel to propane/coal and your personal time cost is ridiculous. You can make a rat tail blacksmith knife from a 4" piece of steel drawn out. One 48" bar of steel would make 10-12 forge small knives. Cheap!
Yes you can, its called forge welding. This is also the process they use to make Damascus steel by welding two or more different styles of steel together. It takes a lil while to learn, and isn't something I would recommend for a brand new beginner for a first project. I would buy some 1084 to learn on. While mild is easier to forge, if you make something you like, it can be hardened and tempered if its 1084. And 1084 from Aldo's is almost as cheap as mild stock.
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- Mar 12, 2006
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- 2,264
I don't see a benefit to practicing on mild steel.
Good carbon steel is not substantially more expensive...
I have not found mild to be noticeably easier to forge than high-carbon ...
... but MOST IMPORTANTLY: --- there's more to making a knife than shaping the thing in a forge. Why not use hardenable steel so you can learn forging, HT, handle making--the whole thing? In the end you have something you can learn from by using it---How does it feel? how does it cut? is the blade too thick/thin? Did it chip out on that knotty oak?
You'll never get any of that from a mild steel "practice" blade.
Good carbon steel is not substantially more expensive...
I have not found mild to be noticeably easier to forge than high-carbon ...
... but MOST IMPORTANTLY: --- there's more to making a knife than shaping the thing in a forge. Why not use hardenable steel so you can learn forging, HT, handle making--the whole thing? In the end you have something you can learn from by using it---How does it feel? how does it cut? is the blade too thick/thin? Did it chip out on that knotty oak?
You'll never get any of that from a mild steel "practice" blade.